Oil burner



June 17, 1930. L.'LA BRANCH I 1,764,109

OIL BURNER Filed Oct. 6, 1927 2 s t s t l Zlwuentor aifw m A OIL BURNER Filed Oct 6 197 2 SheetsSheet 2 oo 0 0x0 41,842, filed July 6, 1925.

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES LOUIS LA BRANCH, OF DAYTON, OHIO OIL BURNER Application filed October 6, 1927. Serial No. 224,388.

My invention relates to hydro-carbon fuel burners of the vapor generator type wherein the fuel, preferabl oil, is vaporized by being pre-heated an the vapors subsequently mixed with air to form a combustible mixture. The present construction is a further development and amplification of that disclosed in co-pending application, Serial No. In the present invention there is contemplated a dome shape shaped mixing chamber surmounted by a vaporizing chamber in which the vaporizing liquid fuel is conducted. The top of the dome shaped mixing chamber is perforated, and a series of air ducts or nozzles project within the mixing chamber from the bottom thereof into proximity with the vent openin s in the top to supply air for intermixtur with the vapors supplied to such mixing chamber from the superposed vaporizing chamber. Exteriorly surrounding the dome shaped burner chamber is an independent series of air inlet ducts and also an annular tuyere discharging downwardly at the base of the dome shaped burner chamber. The interior and exterior air supply ports or ducts including the annular tuyere are independently supplied with air so that the air supply interiorly and cxteriorly of the burner chamber may be regulated or relatively proportioned. An annular gutter surrounds the burner chamber exterior-1y thereof serving as a. drainage channel for excess and unvaporized fuel and also as a distributing channel for a primingcharge to facilitate initiation of the burner opera,- tion. Connected with this channel is a priming chamber or initial vaporizer equipped with an electric heater by which the preliminary priming charge may be vaporized and associated therewith is a spark plug or other ignition means by which the preliminarily generated vapors may be ignited.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such hydro-carbon fuel burners, whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in operation, automatic in action, easily controlled and unlikely: to get out of repair.

A further object; of the invention is to provide a burner in which the fuel will be thoroughly consumed leaving a minimum of soot and residue.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such a burner an improved form of air distribution and control, whereby air is not only suppliedf interiorly of the burner compartmentfor intermixture with the vaporized'fucl, but an additional air supply is provided exteriorly ofthe burner compartment to insure free, full and complete fuel consumption. y

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for priming or initially operating such burner to induce automatic generation.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved burner constructions and arrangement of parts whereby they will be free to compensate for expansion and contraction.

\Vith the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction," the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled mechanism forming the subject matter hereof. Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly broken away of the assembled burner illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side eleva-- tion partly broken away of a hot air-furnace to which the plied.

Like parts arc indicated by similar char acters of reference throughout the several views.

While the present burner is especially designed for domestic use in furnaces and stoves, it is not limited to such use but may be applied to industrial. purposes in any installation wherein an automatic generating liquid burner is desirable.

present burner has been ap- Referring to the drawings the burner embodiesa base member 1 having a marginal upstanding flange 2 and in inwardly spaced relation therewith a second upstanding wall or flange 3. Intermediate the marginal flange 2'and concentric wall 3 there is formed an annular channel 4 which serves both as a drainage channel for condensed or unvaporized fuel and also as a distributing channel for a priming charge. The concentric inwardly spaced wall 3 is formed with unit or base member 1 formed by a dependent flange 9. Super-posed upon the base member 1 is a concave-convex cover section 10 having there n a multipl city of ventbpenings or perforations 11 through which the combustible mi'xtureof fuel vapors and air is released and burned. The margins of this concave-convex cover section rest uplon the beveled top margin of the wall 3. T e beveled or inclined-engagement of the cover section 10 upon the upper margins'of such wall 3 1S free to permit relative expan sion and contraction of the cover section 10 in relation with the base unit. This cover section 10 is centrally provided .with a concentric dependent tapered flange 12 extending intoclose proximity to the bottom of the basev unit 1. This dependent tapered flange 12 affords within the burner chamber a concentric distributing compartment 13 for fuel vapors which are fed to the mixing chamber 14 of the burner throughrjthe intervening-space beneath the lower margin of the.

concentric flange 12. Thedistri'bi ting chamber 13 communicates with the combustion chamber 14 only through itsbottoiii.'and

well below the top of the air inlet or et.

nozzles 7. Thus the fuel supply admitted to the combustion chamberl from thedistributing chamber 13' must necessarily pass upwardly from the lower margin of the flange 12 through the bod of air supplied by the inlet or et nozzles to the vent perforations 11. his insures a thorough and uniform intermixture 'of fuel vapors and air into a unifornily'combustible mixture.

Seated within a. recess or pocket formed in the convex or cover section 10 of the burner is an inverted bell shaped vaporizing chamber 1 5. This vaporizing chamber '15 has a centrally disposed dependent spud 16 which extends through a central hub 17 of,

the base or bottom unit 1, and connects with a fuel supply conduit 18. The liquid fuel entering the burner through the supply conduit 18 and the hollow stem or inlet spud 16 is subjected to the heat of combustion of the vaporized and carbureted gas or vapors being burned over the top surface of the convex cover section 10 entirely surrounding the vaporizing chamber 15. The vapors arising within the chamber 15 from such heated liquid fuel escape downwardly through the upstanding conduit 19 which projectswithin the chamber 15, and communicates at the lower end with the distri: bution compartment 13 of the burner. Merely as a safety outlet inthe event of an excess pressure of vaporized fuel accumulating within the chamber 13 there is provided in the top thereof a safety valve which may be of any suitable form. In the present iiistance there is shown a conventional form of safety outlet comprising a ball valve 20 closing a relief vent 21 and loosely held against bodily displacement but permitting ample movement to relieve pressure in the chamber by a retaining chamber 22. This conventional form of safety relief valve is shownfor illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that any other form of reliefvalve may be utilized. A drain pipe 25 communicates through an outlet opening 26 with the interior of the burner chamber l t at one side thereof, and at the same time communicates with an overflow well 27 which takes the place of one of the air inlet ports 6, but terminates at a lower level. Any excess liquid fuel accumulating in the channel 4 would overflow such drain well 27 passing thence through the outlet 26 into the drain pipe 25. The top of the drain well 27 is. located, however at a level sufficiently above the bottom' of the channel 4 to retain therein an ample priming charge of liquid fuel. Communicating with the bot.

tom of the'channel 4 is a primary vaporizing chamber 28 which is for temporary use only in starting the burner in operation. This primary vaporizing chamber 28 contains an electrical heater unit 29 and is supplied with liquid fuel through a sup ly conduit .30. Sufficient fuel is admitted through the coin duit 30 to fill the vaporizing chamber 28 and rise into the priming channel 4. A check valve 31 is. referably, tlioughnot necessarily, provide intermediate theinitial vaporizing chamber 28 and the priming channel 4. The liquid fuel within the chamber 28 becoming heated,'v'apors will arise therefrom and from'the li uid within the channel 4.. Located imme iately above the con duit connection between the initial vaporizer 28 and the valve 4 is an electrical ignition device, which in the present instance has been shown as the f conventional form of spark plug 32. Topreve nt flashing or splut- 'tering as the liquid fuel and vapors arise fuel within the channel 4 through which the flame follows throughout the periphery of the burner. The heat from such burning fuel serves to raise the temperature of the vaporizing chamber 15 to generating heat whereupon the automatic generation of fuel vapors is induced and the operation of the burner becomes automatic.-

Surrounding the burner is a tuyere 34 discharging downwardly immediately above the channel 4 and outside the periphery of the combustion chamber. Air is supplied to the tuyere 34 through a ring 35' surrounding the peripheral flange 2 of the burner.

The ring is provided with an'.inwardly projecting flange 36 having in it a succession of spaced notches 37. upon the flange 36 is a slidingly revoluble damper ring 38 having therein holes 39 which are moved into and out of registry with the notches 3.7 by the revoluble sliding adjustment of such damper ring. By this means the volume of air discharged through the tuyere 34 is regulated. The air supply exteriorly of the combustion chamber through the air port 6 and tuyere 34 is entirely independent of the air supply through the jet nozzles 7 within the combustion chamber. Referring to Fig. 3 as shown an air supply conduit 40 which may lead from any suitable source of air supply, preferably outside the building. This conduit 4 extends within the ash pitcompartr'nent of the furnace 41 and is connected at its inner end with the chamber 8 of the burner unit 1. The conduit 40 isprovided with a regulating damper 42 by which the supply of air may be controlled. This air supply is thus conducted by the conduit 40 direct to the chamber 8 which communicates through the jet nozzles 7 with the interior of the eomhnstion chamber 14. The separate air inlet 43 leads to a housing 44 connected with and closing the ash pit opening of the furnace 41. The conduit 40 before mentioned extends through the housing or air vent 43 without con'nnunicating therewith. The housing or shaft 43 communicates through the ash pit door with the interior of the furnace 41 beneath the burner. Air admitted to the ash pit space 44 rises through the supply ports 6 surrounding the burner and through the tuyere 34, the capacity of which is regulated by the slidable damper plate 38. To facilitate the assembly of the burner within the fire pot of the furnace 41 and enable'the introduction of its parts through the firing door thereof, the ring 36 may be formed in separable sections as Adj ustably resting provided at spaced intervals pro]ect1ng fingers 53 on which rest lugs 54 its advantages.

indicated in the plan view Fig. 2. The tuyere 34 may also be formed in semi-circular sections to be interconnected, although it is preferably made as a single part, the ordinary firingdoor being sufiiciently large to admit this member. The overflow conduit 25 preferably, though not necessarily, discharges into a drip container 6 connected with a cutofl valve 47 in the supply conduit 18. The arrangement is such that whenever the overflow becomes excessive the waste of-the accumulation in the drip pan will operate the supply. Obviously this excess accumulation would only occur when the fire for some reason was accidentally extinguished While the fuel continued to flow.

While extensive trials have shown that a burner constructed as heretofore described will consume the fuel completely without the deposit of soot or residue if air is supplied in proper proportions. Means is provided for removing the soot and openin the vent holes 11 in the event that through misoperation, poor fuel or faulty combustion an accumulation ofsoot should occur within in the combustion compartment 14. To this end there is'mounted on the under side of the concave coverportion 10 of the burner a sliding ring 48. having a series of radially disposed fingers 49 extending in close proximityto the under sideof the cover section 10 and across the field of vent perforations 11; The ring 48 is connected with the cover section 9 by studs 56 projecting-through arcuate blocks 51, which enable a limited sliding movement of the ring in a rotary direction. By thus shifting the ring to and fro within the limits determined by the slots 51 the fingers 49 may be made to dislodge any soot deposit on the interior of the cover section 10. The burner is supported within the furnace 41 upon the ring 36'which rests upon the bottom of the fire pot. This ring 36 is with inwardly projectin from the outer face of the peripheral flange 2 of the burner unit 1.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its, form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts, without de arting from the principle involved or sacri cing any of l/Vhile in order to complywith the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features it is to be understood that the' invention is not limited to the s ecific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disvalve .47 to shut off the fuel portion of which rests loosely upon the upstanding Wallsof the base member to permit expansion and contraction, and centrally disposed means for positioning the perforated dome relative to said base, and means for supplying a combustible mixture of fuel and air to said chamber.

2. In a burner ofthe character described, a chamber comprising a base member having upstanding beveled peripheral wall, a concavo-convex perforated dome the marginal portion of which rests upon the beveled edge of said wall, centrally disposed interconnections between the base and. perforated dome and means for supplying a combustible mixture of fuel and air to said chamber.

3. In a burner of the character described, a perforated dome, means for supplying vaporized fuel to the interior of said dome, an annular gutter about the base of said dome, means for supplying liquid fuel to said gutter for priming purposes, and means for preheating the priming fuel supplied to said gutter.

4. In a burner of the character described a vaporizing chamber, a mixing chamber for gaseous fuel communicating with the vaporizing chamber and having a perforated top, air supply means leading to the interior of the mixing chamber through the bottom thereof, a hollow tuyere ring surrounding the mixing chamber and having a downwardly directed discharge opening contiguous to'the peripher of the perforated mixing chamber and beibw the level of the perforated top thereof and means for regulating the supply of air through said tuyere.

5. In a burner of the character described a vaporizing chamber, a mixing chamber for gaseous fuel communicating therewith and having a perforated top through which the fuel is dischar ed for consumption, means for supplying air to the interior of said mixing chamber through the bottom thereof, a hollow upstanding wall extending above the level of the perforated top of the mixing chamber and peripherally surrounding said mixing chamber, said hollow wall having a discharge opening adjacent to its bottom and below the level of the perforated top of the mixing chamber and means for supplying air to said hollow wall for discharge through said opening.

6. In a burner of the character described, a vaporizing-chamber, a receiving chamber for fuel having a perforated top, agutter peripherally surrounding said fuel chamher, a tuyere comprising an upstanding wall extended inwardly and thence downwardly into overhanging relation with said gutter forming. a circuitous air passage open at its bottom contiguous to said channel, and means for supplying air in regulated quantit through said passage.

In a burner of the character described a vaporizing chamber, a receiving chamber for-gaseous fuel having a perforated top for the discharge of the fuel, and a concentric air chamber extending above the level of the perforated top of the fuel chamher and having a discharge opening below the level of the perforations of said chamger, and an air supply to both said chamers.

8. In 'a burner of the character described, the combination with a vaporizing chamber and a perforated gaseous fuel receiving chamber, of a circuitous air chamber surrounding the fuel chamber, said' circuitous chamber being open at its bottom and discharging into proximity to the perforated area of said gaseous fuel receiving chamber, a septum dividing the circuitous chamber into inlet and outlet portions, and a regulating damper controlling the flow of air through said chamber to the perforated area of said fuel receiving chamber.

9. Ina burner of the character described, the combination with a vaporizing chamber and a perforated gaseous fuel receiving chamber, of a circuitous air chamber surrounding the fuel chamber, said air chamber being open at its bottom, a septum dividing the open bottom into inlet and outlet portions, and an apertured damper slidingly adjustable within said air chamber regulating the flow of air from the inlet to the outlet portions thereof.

- 10. In a burner of the character described. the combination with a vaporizing chamber and a perforated gaseous fuel receiving chamber of an inverted channel shaped tuye're surrounding said perforated fuel receiving chamber, a septum dividing the open bottom of the inverted channel into intake and discharge orifices, said inverted channel extending above the level of the perforated chamber with its open bottom (lischarging contiguous to the periphery of the perforated fuel receiving chamber and below the level of the perforations thereof.

11. In a burner of the character.described a vaporizing chamber, a perforated receivmg chamber for gaseous fuel, an air supplv to said perforated fuel chamber a second air supply discharging exteriorly of said perforated fuel chamber and contiguous to' the periphery thereof, and means forindependently regulating the respective air supplies. r

12. In a burner of the character described a vaplorizing chamber, a perforated receiving amber for gaseous fuel, an air supply 1 leading to said fuel chamber, a series of. air supply ports located about the periphery of said fuel chamber, an independent air supply means therefor, a tuyere surrounding the perforated fuel chamber and seriesof independent airports, and means for sup-- plying air'to said tuyere independently of, theair supplied to said fuel chamber and to said series of ports.

13, The combination with a perforated re-' ceiving chamber for gaseous fuel, a gutter surrounding the chamber for riming fuel, an auxiliary fuel supply chamger for liquid fuel communicating with said gutter, a heat-.

er in said supply chamberby whichsaid v fuel is preheated and fuel vapors generated,

and an ignition device in proximity to the opening from said chamber t'othe gutter.

14. The combination with a perforated chamber for gaseous fuel, a primmg gutter surrounding the'chambeiymeans for supply-1 ing priming fuel thereto, a draina e outlet from said chamber rfor' condensation, and an overflow outlet from said gutter to said drainage outlet,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of September, A. D.

- ouis LA BRANCH. 

